When a child is abducted, Amber Alerts are projected on your phone screen, highway signs and local broadcasts.
The emergency alert is issued when a certain criterion is met in a child abduction.
If you receive one on your phone, it’s important to take note of it, as it means a child is in danger and information you have may save the child’s life.
Here is an overview of what to do if you receive an Amber Alert — and a bit of background on the emergency system as well.
1. What do I do when I receive an Amber Alert?
If you receive an Amber Alert, it means that a child is in danger in the area, and it is vital to act fast.
An Amber Alert is often distributed through cell phones, broadcast networks and highway signs.
If you see or hear an Amber Alert, take the time to read through it and familiarize yourself with what law enforcement is seeking.
Keep these descriptions in your mind and be on the lookout.
If you are out and see a vehicle or individual that matches the description on the Amber Alert, call 911 or the number that is given on the alert immediately.
Provide as much detail as you possibly can about what you saw.
2. Why is this called an Amber Alert?
The Amber Alert system has been in place since 1996.
It stands for America’s Broadcast Emergency Response and is named after Amber Hagerman.
While riding her bike in Arlington, Texas, in 1996, 9-year-old Hagerman was kidnapped.
Four days after her abduction, her body was found in a creek about four miles away.
The person responsible for the brutal crime has still not been caught.
This was the case that inspired the Amber Alert system that is in place to this day.
3. What states get the most Amber Alerts?
Year after year, the state of Texas — where the incident that inspired the Amber Alert occurred — gets the most alerts.
In 2022, the Office of Justice Programs reported 31 alerts in the state of Texas.
Georgia issued 14 alerts, while Florida issued 13.
Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Navajo Nation, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Vermont all had zero, according to 2022 reporting from the source.
4. How many kids have been saved because of an Amber Alert?
The Amber Alert system has saved thousands of children.
As of Dec. 31, 2023, the system has contributed to the recovery of 1,200 children, according to AmberAlert.gov.
Additionally, the system has proven to stop perpetrators from continuing with abduction, according to the source, which notes that criminals will sometimes release a child after hearing the Amber Alert sound.
5. What are the requirements for an Amber Alert to be issued?
In order for an Amber Alert to be issued, there is a certain set of requirements that must first be met.
The following are the Department of Justice requirements for sending out an Amber Alert, as laid out on AmberAlert.gov.
- There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.
- The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
- There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.
- The abduction is of a child age 17 years or younger.
- The child’s name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.
